Vasantrao Phulsingh Naik (1 July 1913 – 18 Aug 1979), Maharashtra’s longest-serving Chief Minister (1963–1975), is celebrated as the Father of the Green Revolution in Maharashtra for ushering in hybrid seeds, irrigation projects, water conservation, and cooperatives that transformed the state’s agriculture . During the severe 1972 drought, he instituted India’s first rural Employment Guarantee Scheme to support landless laborers and farmers . He also established four agricultural universities, promoted Panchayat Raj, and supported the White Revolution . Since 1989, his birthday, July 1, has been officially observed as Maharashtra Agriculture Day (“Krishi Din”), often followed by an Agriculture Week (July 1–7) to honor farmers and promote sustainable agriculture